Landscape, Nature And Travel Photography

Back in 1983/4 my friend showed me his Apple IIe and I was blown away. In 1986 I was super stoked to get a Macintosh Plus. No more hand written reports or worse using a type writer and relying on Wite-out to correct my bad typing. The world thanks to Steve Jobs and Apple is very different now.

I have been an Apple fan as long as I’ve used computers and I’m unashamed to admit I’ve purchased a vast majority of their computers and mobile devices. When the Macintosh II came out, Apple’s first color computer, I knew the world of digital imaging would be in my future. I didn’t now how exactly, but I knew it would happen. Photoshop did not exist in September 1988 when I paid over $5000 for the Mac II, but as I saw software develop in the months and years after that enabled the editing of photos I was enthralled. Sadly scanners were equally expensive back then, but I relied on scanning my photos using an HP scanner in my college computer lab. It took ~15 minutes to scan a 4×6 print at a resolution of 1600×1200 (a giant file at the time) and to share it I had to use dial up at home or bike to campus to use the earliest form of the Internet. It was a super exciting time. It was so obvious things were changing in radical ways. I had no idea how it would turn out exactly, but Steve seemed to have a master vision that kept Apple users on their toes waiting for the next development.

Since that time so much has changed. Steve Jobs without any doubt has influenced my life laying the groundwork for my interests and career aspirations. Would I have been able to do the things I’ve done to date with out Apple or Steve Jobs… likely, but not with as much passion. Steve Jobs kept me on my toes always thinking about the next big evolution in computing, content creation and publishing channels.

A Crowd Photographs the First Apple iPhone - MacWorld Expo 2007

I never met Steve Jobs, but I came close while at the 2008 MacWorld Expo. It was the year following the release of the iPhone and he was on the convention floor at the Apple booth. He was busy catching up on email on his iPhone. I never had any interest in interrupting him, but I did want to get a “I saw Steve Jobs! photo”. I had my dSLR with me which stuck out like a sore thumb and every time I raised it to take his photo one of his handlers would casually move between us blocking my view. I had to eventually shoot from my hip as I walked by to get his photo. I suppose it added to the adventure of it all.

Steve Jobs Checking His iPhone at the 2008 MacWorld Convention

I will certainly miss Steve Jobs not because I ever knew him, but because of how he made me think about the next big thing with each big announcement. The computers and gadgets were a means to an end… self publishing, photo editing, podcasting, webcasting/video conferencing, app development and so on. I will also miss hearing his catch phrase delivered only as he could say it:

One More Thing…

One final note, if you have yet to see this then I highly recommend setting some time aside to watch Steve’s Stanford commencement speech from 2005

Rest in peace Steve and thank you.

Technorati Tags: Apple, technology, Steve Jobs

The more I travel the more I see people taking photos with mobile devices (cell phones, tablet computers, etc.) Case in point while in Glacier National Park I spied a tourist photographing Logan Pass from a turnout on the Road to the Sun with an iPad 2. It’s very common to see people taking photos with their mobile phones, but the difference in this case is that the iPad 2 has a very weak camera by modern standards. The iPad 2 rear camera has a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels, which adds up to 0.92 megapixel. By comparison most mobile phones now have resolutions on the order of 3-5 megapixels. I’m not sure this photographer will be very happy with his images when he realizes this. Bummer too as he was from Europe and I’m sure it will be a while before he’s back in Glacier National Park.

Are you seeing an increase in this trend on your trips?

Tourist Photographs Mount Clements with an iPad 2 - Glacier National Park, Montana

Technorati Tags: photography, iPad 2, stock photo, Glacier National Park, Montana, tablet

I had the good fortune of working with nature photography icon William Neill to develop an iPad version of his book William Neill’s Yosemite Volume One. I can tell you it was a real treat being able to work with William as I’ve long been a fan of his photography and writing in Outdoor Photography. Even better was being able to review his work in close detail as I worked on his app and now you can too. Unlike the PDF of his eBook this version allows you to zoom into see his photographs in crystal clear detail.

If you haven’t already be sure to buy a copy of William’s latest released and let him know how you like it.

If you’re curious to hear what others think of his iPad version of his eBook check out the following review:

A Brave New World of eBooks – Guy Tal

Technorati Tags: photography, ipad, app, William Neill, Yosemite

This Weeks Friday Freebie iPad Wallpaper: Grindelwald Glacier, Switzerland
Friday Freebie features an image to liven up your iPad display with images from my travels… all for free.

Switzerland is one amazingly beautiful location. The extreme mountain-scapes and diverse history of each region makes for a fascinating time of exploration. I particularly enjoyed exploring the high country around Grindelwald, Wengen and Lauterbrunnen during my last trip. Standing atop mountains in the alps is an incredible feeling especially when looking down at the ever impressive Grindelwald Glacier. Large blocks of ice cling and forge down the super steep mountain walls virtually defying gravity. While Grindelwald isn’t as massive as other glaciers its steepness and jaggedness never ceases to impress those that see it. If you’re curious to see more of my landscape and travel photos from Switzerland look no further than this link. Thanks for checking in and enjoy this Friday’s Freebie.

Click here to download your free iPad wallpaper. Have a great weekend!

Note: This image is distributed for personal use only and all rights are reserved. If interested in using this photograph commercially please contact me.

Technorati Tags: Photography, nature, landscape, Free, Friday Freebie, iPad, Wallpaper

With the holidays around the corner I thought I would remind readers of my blog that there is no time like the present to purchase a photo or photography eBook as a gift for others or even yourself. For those who might be interested in prints of my photographs I welcome you to email me directly with your order and I’ll take 25% off the total. Note: Include in your message the print size, image name/url and your contact information.

If you’re looking for something in a digital format I wanted to point you to eBooks that I and my peers have currently made available.

iPad eBooks and ePhotobooks

Jim M. Goldstein Photography
White Sands Fine Art ePhotobook (iTunes)

Ansel Adams
Ansel Adams – Collection (iTunes)

eBooks (PDF)

DIYPhotography.net
Home Studio Photography eBook

Craft & Vision
Craft And Vision
A growing library including a great release by photographer Michael Fry “Light and Land”

William Neill Photography
William Neill eBook collection – A growing and impressive library of fine art and landscape photography

Guy Tal Photography
Creative Landscape Photography (see my review)

Digital Photography School
Photo Nuts & Bolts: Know Your Camera and Take Better Photos eBook
Essential Guide to Portrait Photography eBook
Advice from the likes of David Duchemin, Jack Hollingsworth, Chase Jarvis, Bert Stephani, Neil Creek and Kris Krug
Transcending Travel eBook

Dan Bailey Photography
How to Become a Pro Photographer eBook

Technorati Tags: photography, ebook, ipad, ephotobook, pdf, photo, picture, book, gift

I’m excited to announce the release of my first iPad app, ePhotobook White Sands HD, a collection of fine art photographs taken earlier this year in White Sands National Monument, New Mexico.

Features of Note:

• High resolution images, sans watermark, that can be explored in detail above and beyond the resolution of the iPad
• Previously unpublished photographs
• Exclusive essays
• Twitter & Facebook integration to share with friends
• Web based content via RSS to keep you informed of new workshops, app & ebook releases, photographs and more

Inspiration and beauty for only $4.99 USD

Note: ePhotobook development services tailored to professional photographers are now available. Inquiries for ePhotobook authoring services are now being accepted.

Technorati Tags: photography, mobile, app, Apple, iPad, White Sands National Monument, fine art

To conclude my monthly series “Thoughts on the iPad” where I previously discussed future audience trends in Where Will Your Audience Be Next Year? and developing eCommerce trends with mobile apps in Cracking the Code to Web Revenue? I wanted to discuss the web marketing potential of mobile apps. With all signs pointing toward a shift in user adoption with mobile devices and eCommerce trends highlighting an increase in mobile app consumption, the natural questions are “How is this relevant to me? ” and “How can the potential of mobile apps be realized?”  The answer to these questions are most certainly subjective, but here is my take.

How are mobile apps relevant to me?
The earliest adopters of mobile applications (service & content publishers) have by and large been larger brands with deeper pockets or small tech companies looking to capture the attention of early adopters with novel products & services. For some mobile apps have been a way to establish an image of hip or cool, a means to create PR buzz or to push the envelope establishing a new business model. As it relates to small business owners, such as photographers, the question inevitably arises how is this new platform relevant to me?

Mobile apps provide a very interesting solution to a challenge faced by all businesses regardless of size, namely generating revenue online. Don’t get me wrong there are multiple approaches to generating revenue online including straight sales (ex. books, prints, ebooks, etc), freemium (ex. MailChimp, my email marketing service of choice, offers limited free service with expanded services costing money), advertising, subscription, etc. Each of these business models can be accomplished outside of the realm of mobile applications through a standard website. Unlike the standard website mobile applications excel in revenue generation because:

1. There is an understood expectation that apps at some point cost money
2. They’re mobile and your audience can make a purchase virtually anywhere
3. They facilitate instant sharing of online testimonials between customers and prospective customers via social media & email
4. Transaction conversion rates by app customers are trending higher than standard web customers
5. They can unify existing web properties (marketing and commerce) into a powerful sales tool

Realizing the Potential of Mobile Apps
Depending on your business model there are numerous ways to realize the potential of mobile applications. I can’t claim to know the exact answer for everyone, but the clues to finding the right answer for you are in the list above. Personally I feel the most novel aspect of mobile apps is the ability to hone marketing and sales efforts into a razor sharp tool. Utilizing a mobile app to act as a lens that focuses ones online presence is an incredible opportunity. Such an approach not only pulls together disparate online efforts it reinforces brand, messaging and product/service offerings.

On that note, look out for my next post later today for an exciting announcement that will show how I’m applying such theory to my business online.

Technorati Tags: technology, mobile, app, application, photography, iPad

In my previous post All Eyes Are On The iPad. Are Yours? I noted how the iPad was setting the stage for a publishing revolution with its transformational user experience. How have I come to this bold prediction? Three key signs have led me to the belief we’re on the cusp of a publishing revolution in short order.

1. Tablet computers are currently the next must have device.
2. Touchscreen interaction / navigation will be spreading to traditional computers
3. Touchscreen interaction / navigation is defining an entire new branch of user interaction & user experience

Must Have Device
If you haven’t noticed already there are iPad giveaways around every corner. Apple’s iPad has captured the imagination of millions of people by changing how they interact with content on the web. This same fervor hit consumers in the 80’s with the mouse and here in the 2010’s touchscreen technology is making online viewing less abstract and physically more interactive. Apple’s ability to hit it big with the iPad, as with their other successful product launches, inevitably results in competitors releasing cheaper takeoffs. Odds are if you know someone who wants a gadget for Christmas they’ll be asking for an iPad. If an iPad isn’t in the budget you can bet that your local retailer like BestBuy will be selling a variety of competitors to fill the void.

Expect Touchscreen Interaction on Your Computer
Mobile devices are an intuitive place to utilize touchscreen technology. Mobile devices with their small footprint must be compact for portability while walking a fine line to provide an easy to view screen with easy navigation capabilities. Ask a child to view something on a computer and their first reaction invariably will be to point to the screen. This exemplifies the simplest navigation tool available… our fingers. As mobile devices become ubiquitous amongst younger generations such navigation is not only going to become intuitive, but expected.

The difference between a 3.5 inch (9 cm) and a 9.75 inch (24.5 cm) diagonal touchscreen of an iPhone & iPad may seem less than notable, but the increase in real estate to present text, images and video is huge. Everything (navigation cues, graphics, buttons, etc.) becomes easier to identify, touch, and move. Larger screen sizes also create greater opportunity for new and innovative navigation and presentation layers.  This type of content interaction is not likely to be lost on traditional computers with even larger screens, as recently surfaced Apple patent filings of a touchscreen iMac confirm we’ll be seeing more of this style of interaction on future computers.

Evolution of Web Use & Design Standards
In a recent edition of Wired magazine it was prognosticated that the web is dead.

Over the past few years, one of the most important shifts in the digital world has been the move from the wide-open Web to semiclosed platforms that use the Internet for transport but not the browser for display. It’s driven primarily by the rise of the iPhone model of mobile computing, and it’s a world Google can’t crawl, one where HTML doesn’t rule. And it’s the world that consumers are increasingly choosing, not because they’re rejecting the idea of the Web but because these dedicated platforms often just work better or fit better into their lives (the screen comes to them, they don’t have to go to the screen). The fact that it’s easier for companies to make money on these platforms only cements the trend. - The Web Is Dead. Long Live the Internet

How the data is parsed to come to this conclusion is questionable in my book (video is not considered the web? really!? What about YouTube?), but this Wired article in general raises an interesting premise and should make you think twice about how you’re experiencing the web today and how you & your audience might be experiencing it in the future.

The iPad, being the first out of the gate, will have a disproportionate amount of influence on design standards and user experience trends for the touchscreen oriented content. Knowing these standards and understanding how users are interacting with online content is critical whether  that content resides in a web page, app, peer-to-peer site, etc.  The question then raised is how does your web site translate to a touchscreen device like an iPad? In case you were unaware iPadPeek is a great way to see (just be sure you disable Flash on your browser first).  The even bigger question is how will your audience be viewing the content you produce and publish online?

Will traditional web sites hold up? Will apps be the dominant channel of online publishing? Will mobile viewing overtake traditional computer viewing? I have a notion of how things will play out in the future and it centers on a maturing model of revenue generation, but details to this thought will have to wait for the next post in this series Thoughts on the iPad: Cracking the Code to Web Revenue? Stay tuned…

Technorati Tags: photography, Apple, iPad, publishing